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2015 Real Estate Tax Relief and Assistance Program for Elderly and Disabled Persons

Residents of the City of Alexandria who are either 65 years of age or older or permanently and totally disabled by November 15, 2015, may be eligible for the City's Real Estate Tax Relief Program for Elderly and Disabled Persons. Tax relief may be prorated for persons who turn 65 or who become disabled between January 1 and November 15, 2015.

Program Requirements

Income Requirements for 2015:

To qualify for a full tax exemption in the current year, a household's gross combined income may not have exceeded $40,000 in the prior year.

To qualify for a partial exemption equal to 50 percent of the taxes owed for the current year, a household’s gross combined income may not have exceeded $55,000 in the prior year.

To qualify for a partial exemption equal to 25 percent of the taxes owed for the current year, a household’s gross combined income may not have exceeded $72,000 in the prior year.

To qualify for tax deferral, a household's gross combined income may not have exceeded $72,000 in the prior year.

Note: Gross combined income includes the income of both spouses as well as any income in excess of $10,000 per year of other relatives living in the home.

Asset Requirementsfor 2015

The assets of the household may not exceed $430,000 (excluding the house and two acres of adjoining property). Taxpayer with assets that exceed $430,000 but less than $540,000 will only be granted exemption for the first half 2015 taxes due to program changes as a result of the Fiscal Year 2015 Budget deliberations.

Disabled Persons

Permanently and totally disabled persons must attach to the application or affidavit form, certification of their disability from the Social Security Administration Office, the Department of Veterans Affairs or the Railroad Retirement Board, or a sworn affidavit by two medical doctors licensed to practice in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The certification or affidavit must state that the applicant is unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment or deformity which can be expected to last for the duration of the applicant’s life.

Verification of Income and Assets

All applicants must attach copies of documents to support income, e.g., Social Security statements (SSA1109), Railroad Retirement or Pension statements (1109R), wages (W-2), interest (1109Int) and dividend (1109Div) income, divorce agreements, leases, and year-end financial statements, etc. Applicants required to file a Federal Income Tax Returns must provide a copy of the tax returns (with all attachments) by April 20, 2015.

Filing an Application

Completed applications or annual certifications must be filed with the Department of Finance by April 15, 2015.

Late Application: In the event that hospitalization or medical illness prevents the applicant from submitting an application by the April 15 due date, late applications will be accepted up to the June 15 first half real estate tax due date. Applicants who apply after June 15 but before November 15 will either be denied or, if the applicant's circumstances warrant acceptance despite the missed deadline, will only qualify for prorated tax relief covering the second half real estate tax. No applications can be accepted after the November 15 second half real estate tax due date.

Please note for 2015, all applicants are required to file a full application. For the next two subsequent years, the participant needs only to sign and return an annual certification unless income and assets substantially change . For example, if an applicant completes a full application in 2015, he or she will submit signed annual certifications in 2016 and 2017. He or she will then submit another full application in 2018.

Any resident wishing to receive an application by mail should contact one of the following offices:

Note

The City Code requires that applicants who qualify for tax relief notify Tax Services & Enforcement in the event of any financial changes or the death of the applicant during 2014 that affects their eligibility status. Examples of changes that need to be reported include: (a) Change of residence; (b) Sale of the residential property in the City; (c) The death of the applicant(s); or (d) Changes in income or assets.

Changes in income, financial worth, ownership of the qualified property, or other factors occurring during the year for which tax relief is sought that affect the applicant’s eligibility status may adjust or eliminate any tax relief for the remainder of the tax year. Tax relief granted up to the date of any change that has affected the taxpayer’s eligibility for this program is not affected.

Further Information

Application assistance is available by phone or email at:

Tax Services & Enforcement703.746.3901, Option 6Email:

In person application assistance is available from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Tuesdays and Thursdays, at: